The Gallagher house was doing what it always did—chaos, noise, and the constant feeling that something was about to explode.

You were in the kitchen, trying to make a sandwich without starting a fire, when Fiona walked in like she owned the place. Hair messy, eyes sharp, attitude louder than the TV.

“Hey,” she said, tossing her bag onto the counter. “You still alive?”

You laughed. “Barely.”

She leaned against the counter, close enough that you could smell her perfume—something warm, like cinnamon and cigarettes.

Then she looked at you like she’d just remembered something.

“Hey,” she said again, like she was thinking out loud. “You wanna go to Patsy’s tonight?”

You blinked. “Why?”

Fiona shrugged. “Because I’m bored and I don’t feel like dealing with the family.”

You hesitated. “I don’t know… I’m tired.”

She rolled her eyes. “Come on. You always do this. You’re the worst.”

You opened your mouth to argue, but the front door slammed, and Lip and Ian walked in.

“Hey,” Lip said, looking at Fiona. “Where’s [Your Name]?”

Fiona shrugged like she didn’t care. “They’re in the kitchen.”

Lip looked at you, then back at Fiona. “So… you two are going out tonight, right?”

You froze.

Fiona blinked. “What?”

Lip laughed. “You know. Like… a date. The two of you. Everyone thinks you’re together.”

You felt your face heat up.

“I’m not—” you started.

Fiona cut you off, eyes narrowing. “No. We’re not.”

Lip raised his hands. “Okay, okay. I’m just saying, everyone thinks it. Like, when you two walk into a room, people just assume you’re a couple.”

You looked at Fiona. She looked at you.

And suddenly, the silence felt heavy.

Because you knew what he meant.

People did assume.

Maybe because you were always together.

Maybe because you finished each other’s sentences.

Maybe because the way Fiona looked at you when she thought no one was watching wasn’t exactly… friendly.

You swallowed. “It’s not true.”

Fiona’s jaw tightened. “It’s not.”

Lip shrugged. “Whatever. Just saying. If you two are together, you should tell people. It’d make things easier.”

You and Fiona exchanged a look.

Because it wasn’t that simple.